Grading Ben Roethlisberger
January 24th 2011 17:45
In yesterday's AFC Championship Game, Ben Roethlisberger had easily his worst statistical football game of the year, going 10 of 19 for 133 yards, and two interceptions. That's good for a truly abysmal 35.5 quarterback rating. And to many people who did not watch the game, they will look at that line and state unequivocably that the Steelers won the game despite Ben Roethlisberger, not because of him.
Those people could not be more wrong.
The stats also show 11 carries for 21 yards, with a 1.9 average, 1 TD and a long of 12. That's the hidden statistic in this game, because Ben Roethlisberger did more than enough things in this game to keep drives alive, keep the chains moving, keep the clock running and then, in the end, to put a stake through the hearts of the Jets.
On the first drive, on a 3rd and 12, Ben dropped back while the Jets - to the Steelers surprise - employed the same 8-man blanket coverage units that had stymied Indy and New England. Unlike Indy and New England, however, Ben looked, looked, looked...and then ran. He ran like he knew where the TV "orange line" was on the field, and dove - head first - over that line to get the first down. Lo and behold, that drive was to end in a Steeler touchdown.
One of the night's prettier passes, Ben was facing 4-man pressure, stepped up, up, a bit right, and up again before breaking open and then spotting Miller. He strong-armed a pass to Miller, and got a nice about 20-yard gain. That drive ended in a touchdown, too.
On that same drive he found Emmanuel Sanders all alone and hit him.
On a first down, he ran a bootleg right, paused to make sure the defending linebacker looked after the would-be receiver, and then trotted untouched into the end zone.
Most importantly, late in the fourth, on a 2nd and 9, Ben is flushed right and finds Heath Miller, forcing the Jets to take their second timeout and gaining a first down. The Steelers were able to run two more running plays, forcing the Jets to burn their third and final time out. Then, on a 3rd and 6, from the shotgun, Ben is once more flushed right and finds rookie WR Antonio Brown for the game-sealing first down completion.
So yeah, he had two interceptions. One bounced off of Mendenhall's hands - it was a little early, a little behind Mendenhall, coming in a little hot but still hit Mendenhall's hands and fell into the Jets' player's hands. The other came on a scramble, and was underthrown by Ben (or it could have been a TD) but it was as good as a punt.
Was Ben perfect? Not by a long shot. Were it not for a Jets player jumping up and batting a ball down, Ben would have delivered a picture-perfect pass right to Revis who might have gone to the house. One never knows. He was slightly off all night - not badly off, but that "Ben slightly off" where if it was juuuuuuust a little bit better...
But to say the Steelers won despite him is entirely wrong. The Steelers won as a team, and he contributed as much as anyone. The Jets woke up in the 2nd half and played inspired defense. But when it really, truly mattered, Ben did what he does best - and zapped the Jets.
So I don't care about lines. Stats. 35.5 QB Ratings. 2 picks. I don't care, because they don't ever tell the whole story. The only way to know the whole story is to watch the whole game. I'm grading Ben with a solid B effort as the quarterback.
Those people could not be more wrong.
The stats also show 11 carries for 21 yards, with a 1.9 average, 1 TD and a long of 12. That's the hidden statistic in this game, because Ben Roethlisberger did more than enough things in this game to keep drives alive, keep the chains moving, keep the clock running and then, in the end, to put a stake through the hearts of the Jets.
On the first drive, on a 3rd and 12, Ben dropped back while the Jets - to the Steelers surprise - employed the same 8-man blanket coverage units that had stymied Indy and New England. Unlike Indy and New England, however, Ben looked, looked, looked...and then ran. He ran like he knew where the TV "orange line" was on the field, and dove - head first - over that line to get the first down. Lo and behold, that drive was to end in a Steeler touchdown.
One of the night's prettier passes, Ben was facing 4-man pressure, stepped up, up, a bit right, and up again before breaking open and then spotting Miller. He strong-armed a pass to Miller, and got a nice about 20-yard gain. That drive ended in a touchdown, too.
On that same drive he found Emmanuel Sanders all alone and hit him.
On a first down, he ran a bootleg right, paused to make sure the defending linebacker looked after the would-be receiver, and then trotted untouched into the end zone.
Most importantly, late in the fourth, on a 2nd and 9, Ben is flushed right and finds Heath Miller, forcing the Jets to take their second timeout and gaining a first down. The Steelers were able to run two more running plays, forcing the Jets to burn their third and final time out. Then, on a 3rd and 6, from the shotgun, Ben is once more flushed right and finds rookie WR Antonio Brown for the game-sealing first down completion.
So yeah, he had two interceptions. One bounced off of Mendenhall's hands - it was a little early, a little behind Mendenhall, coming in a little hot but still hit Mendenhall's hands and fell into the Jets' player's hands. The other came on a scramble, and was underthrown by Ben (or it could have been a TD) but it was as good as a punt.
Was Ben perfect? Not by a long shot. Were it not for a Jets player jumping up and batting a ball down, Ben would have delivered a picture-perfect pass right to Revis who might have gone to the house. One never knows. He was slightly off all night - not badly off, but that "Ben slightly off" where if it was juuuuuuust a little bit better...
But to say the Steelers won despite him is entirely wrong. The Steelers won as a team, and he contributed as much as anyone. The Jets woke up in the 2nd half and played inspired defense. But when it really, truly mattered, Ben did what he does best - and zapped the Jets.
So I don't care about lines. Stats. 35.5 QB Ratings. 2 picks. I don't care, because they don't ever tell the whole story. The only way to know the whole story is to watch the whole game. I'm grading Ben with a solid B effort as the quarterback.
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